Ticket dispensing mechanism

ABSTRACT

A ticket dispensing mechanism ( 40 ) includes a drive ( 42 ) receiving sheet material ( 24 ) from a supply ( 22 ). The drive advances the sheet material. A printer ( 48 ) prints ticket information on the sheet material as it is advanced by the drive thereby to form a printed ticket. A retaining mechanism ( 64 ) receives the printed ticket advanced by the drive and holds the printed ticket in a manner such that the leading end of the next ticket printed contacts and ejects the held ticket prior to itself being held by the retaining mechanism.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to dispensers and in particularto a ticket dispensing mechanism to print and dispense tickets whereinthe leading end of one ticket is used to push and eject and earlierprinted ticket from the ticket dispensing mechanism.

BACKGROUND ART

Ticket printing and dispensing devices are well known in the art andmany variations have been considered. For example, U.S. Pat. No.4,592,669 to Lohse et al. discloses a direct-recording printer and ahousing structure therefor. The direct-recording printer includes athermo printer contacting a paper web as it is advanced by a platen.Once the web has been printed, it exits the housing along a horizontalpass beneath a cutting bar. A cutting edge on the end of the cutting barallows the paper web to be cut.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,422,376 to Teraoka discloses a label printer to printlabels on a roll. Once the labels are printed, they are ejected from theprinter housing at an angle through a slot in the printer housing.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,593,833 to Bretti discloses a device for supporting andguiding a roll of paper in an accounting machine. The machine has areservoir for a paper roll, with rollers in the bottom of the reservoirto facilitate rolling of the roll as the web is unwound from the roll.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,695,171 to Sapitowicz, discloses a horizontally orvertically orientable compact ticket processor. The ticket processor hasa U-shaped transport pass with input and output slots in closelysituated parallel planes. An overrunning clutch forms part of thetransport drive between the reader and the printer to shorten thetransport pass by permitting the leading edge of the ticket to enter theprinter while the ticket is being read by the reader. In operation,individual tickets are fed into the input slot and are conveyed to theprinter before being discharged via the output slot.

Although the above-identified patents disclose different ticket printingand dispensing devices, these devices incorporate complex mechanicalsolutions to print and dispense printed tickets. Accordingly, improvedticket dispensing mechanisms are desired. It is therefore an object ofthe present invention to provide a novel ticket dispensing mechanism.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided aticket dispensing mechanism comprising:

a drive receiving sheet material from a supply and advancing said sheetmaterial;

a printer to print ticket information on the sheet material thereby toform a printed ticket; and

a retaining mechanism receiving the printed ticket advanced by saiddrive, said retaining mechanism holding said printed ticket in a mannersuch that the leading end of the next ticket printed contacts and ejectsthe held ticket prior to itself being held by said retaining mechanism.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided aticket dispenser comprising:

a housing defining an internal chamber for receiving a roll of paperweb;

a drive receiving said paper web and advancing said paper web when aticket is to be formed;

a printer to print ticket information on said paper web as it isadvanced by said drive;

a retaining mechanism receiving the printed paper web advanced by saiddrive; and

a cutting device to cut said paper web after said paper web has beenprinted and advanced to said retaining mechanism thereby to separate aticket from said paper web, wherein said retaining mechanism holds saidticket and guides said paper web in a manner such that when the paperweb is advanced by said drive during formation of the next ticket, theleading end of the paper web contacts and ejects the held ticket fromsaid housing.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there isprovided a method of dispensing sequentially printed tickets comprisingthe steps of:

after each ticket is printed, advancing the ticket to a retainingmechanism; and

retaining the ticket in a manner such that when the next ticket isadvanced, the next ticket contacts and ejects the retained ticket priorto itself being retained.

The present invention provides advantages in that tickets are printedand ejected by the ticket dispensing mechanism in a simple, consistentand reliable manner using the leading end of one ticket to contact andeject the previously printed ticket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fullywith reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic, vertical sectional view of a ticket dispenserincorporating a ticket dispensing mechanism in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the ticket dispenser of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3a and 3 b are schematic drawings of the ticket dispensingmechanism forming part of the ticket dispenser of FIG. 1, to a largerscale than FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of an alternative embodiment of a ticketdispensing mechanism in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of another alternative embodiment of aticket dispensing mechanism in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of yet another alternative embodiment of aticket dispensing mechanism in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing of still yet another alternativeembodiment of a ticket dispensing mechanism in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing of still yet another alternativeembodiment of a ticket dispensing mechanism in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing of still yet another alternativeembodiment of a ticket dispensing mechanism in accordance with thepresent invention; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic drawing of still yet another alternativeembodiment of a ticket dispensing mechanism in accordance with thepresent invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a ticket dispenser to print and dispensetickets is shown and is generally indicated to by reference numeral 10.As can be seen, the ticket dispenser 10 includes a clamshell typehousing 12 having a dispenser body 14 and a lid 16 pivotally mounted onthe dispenser body 14 about a pivot axis 18. The dispenser body 14defines an internal chamber 20 adapted to receive a roll 22 of paper web24 on which tickets to be dispensed are printed.

The internal chamber 20 includes a curved support surface 26 defining abarrel 28 to accommodate the roll 22. The barrel 28 includes sidewalls28 a which may be adjustable to allow narrower rolls 22 of paper web 24to be accommodated by the internal chamber 20. Barrel rollers 30 areaccommodated by openings in the barrel 28 at spaced location tofacilitate unwinding of the roll 22 and reduce friction associated withheavy rolls thereby to obviate the need for a spindle to support theroll.

Positioned at one end of the internal chamber 20 is an enclosure 36,which presents a generally upright paper guide wall 38 towards theinternal chamber 20. A ticket dispensing mechanism generally identifiedby reference numeral 40 is partially accommodated by the enclosure 36and includes a platen 42 disposed in the internal chamber 20 adjacentthe guide wall 38. Platen 42 is rotated by a motor 44 within theenclosure 36 through a transmission represented by dashed line 46.

Ticket dispensing mechanism 40 also includes a print head 48 adjacentthe platen 42, a cutting blade 50 disposed above the print head 48 and aretaining mechanism 64 above the cutting blade 50. Cutting blade 50 ismoveable from a retracted position within the enclosure 36 to anoperative position where it extends into the internal chamber 20 throughan opening in the guide wall 38. A controller 52 within the enclosure 36communicates with the motor 44, the print head 48 and the cutting blade50 to synchronize operation of the ticket dispenser 10. Although notshown, if desired, a paper low sensor to detect standard markings placedalong one side of the paper web 24 near the end of the roll may beprovided at the print head 48.

The lid 16 defines an upper ticket receiving surface 54 and has anupstanding lip 56 formed along its distal end defining an edge. A flange58 depends from the distal end of the lid 16. When the lid 16 is in aclosed position, as shown in FIG. 1, the flange 58 presents asubstantially upright planar wall 60 that is positioned above, generallyparallel with, but inwardly (leftwardly) offset from the guide wall 38.

A deflector 62 is supported by the dispenser body 14 and extendsupwardly and away from guide wall 38 above the lip 56. The deflector 62is designed to deflect, toward the ticket receiving surface 54, ticketswhich rise upwardly beyond the edge defined by the lip 56.

The retaining mechanism 64 is best seen in FIGS. 3a and 3 b. In thisembodiment, the retaining mechanism is designed to hold a printed ticketin a generally vertical orientation as well as guide the advancing paperweb 24 so that the paper web frictionally engages with the held printedticket. As can be seen, the retaining mechanism is in the form of arelatively flexible retainer strip mounted on the guide wall 38 adjacentthe upright wall 60. The flexible retainer strip 64 includes a firstflank 66, which is integral with a second flank 68 through a right-anglebend. The second flank 68 terminates in a small ledge 69, giving theretainer strip 64 a generally Z-shaped profile. The angulation of theflank 66 provides a guiding or “funneling” function so that the risingleading end LE of the paper web 24 is deflected and passes between theupright wall 60 and the flexible retainer strip 64.

The operation of the ticket dispenser 10 will now be described.Initially, the ticket dispenser 10 is loaded with a roll 22 of paper web24 by pivoting the lid 16 upwardly about the pivot axis 18 to expose theinternal chamber 20. The roll 22 is the placed on the barrel 28 and thefree leading end LE of the paper web 24 is threaded between the platen42 and the print head 48 and upwardly along the guide wall 38. The lid16 is then closed with the paper web 24 being positioned in the ticketpath defined by the space between the upright walls 38 and 60respectively.

When a ticket is to be printed and dispensed from the ticket dispenser10, controller 52 causes the motor 44 to rotate the platen 42counter-clockwise through transmission 46. Rotation of the platen 42 inthis manner unwinds the paper web 24 from the roll 22. As the paper web24 is advanced by the platen 42, the print head 48 prints ticketinformation on the side of the paper web 24 directed away from theplaten 42. The leading end LE of the paper web 24 in turn moves upwardlyalong the guide wall 38 towards the flank 66 of the retainer strip 64.When the leading end LE of the paper web 24 contacts the flank 66, theleading end LE of the paper web 24 is deflected toward the upright wall60. As the paper web 24 moves upwardly further, the paper web 24 passesbetween the retainer strip 64 and the upright wall 60. As a result ofits resilient biased nature, the retainer strip 64 presses the paper web24 against the upright wall 60.

Once the desired information has been printed on the paper web 24 by theprint head 48 and the paper web 24 has been advanced sufficiently by theplaten 42 so that a portion of the paper web extends out of thedispenser body 14, the controller 52 actuates the cutting blade 50. Thecutting blade 50 in response to the controller 52 moves from itsretracted position to its extended position and then back to itsretracted position. During this cycle, the cutting blade 50 cuts thepaper web 24 thereby to separate a ticket T from the paper web 24. Thebottom portion of the ticket T separated from the paper web 24 is heldagainst the upright wall 60 in a generally vertical orientation by theretainer strip 64 as shown in FIG. 3a.

When the next ticket is to be printed and dispensed by the ticketdispenser 10, the above process is repeated. However, when the leadingend LE of the paper web 24 passes between the retainer strip 64 and theupright wall 60 after having been deflected toward the upright wall 60by flank 66, the leading end LE of the paper web 24 frictionallyoverlaps with the previously formed ticket T pinned to the upright wall60 by the retainer strip 64 as shown in FIG. 3b. During advancement ofthe paper web 24, a point is reached at which the frictional dragbetween the previously formed ticket T and the paper web 24 issufficient to entrain the ticket T so that the ticket T advances withthe paper web 24, thus ejecting the ticket T from the dispenser body 14.As further tickets are printed, the cycle repeats, with sequentialtickets being printed and severed, and with each printed and severedticket being ejected from the dispenser body 14 by frictional contactwith the next ticket in sequence. Thus, the retainer mechanism 64orients each held ticket and guides the advancing paper web 24 towardsthe held ticket so that each held ticket is ejected from the ticketdispensing mechanism in a consistent manner.

As each ticket T is ejected from the dispenser body 14, the ticketcontacts the deflector 62 and is deflected toward the ticket receivingsurface 54 of the lid 16. As a result, sequential tickets ejected fromthe dispenser body 14 form a stack S on the ticket receiving surface 54with the information printed on the tickets facing upwardly.

Although the ticket dispensing mechanism 40 is shown incorporated in aticket dispenser having a clamshell type housing 12, those of skill inthe art will appreciate that the ticket dispensing mechanism may be usedin other types of ticket dispensers. For example, the ticket dispensingmechanism 40 may be mounted on a frame installed as a component ofanother apparatus.

Turning now to FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment of a ticket dispensingmechanism for a ticket dispenser in accordance with the presentinvention is shown. In this embodiment, like reference numerals will beused to indicate like components with a “100” added for clarity. As canbe seen, the ticket dispensing mechanism 140 includes a platen 142, aprint head 148 adjacent the platen 142, a cutting device 150 disposedabove the platen 142 and a retaining mechanism 164 disposed above thecutting device 150.

The cutting device 150 in this embodiment includes a pair ofreciprocating cutting blades 150 a and 150 b. One of the cutting blades150 a is accommodated in a blade support 153 positioned above the platen142. The other cutting blade 150 b is accommodated in a recess providedin a paper guide 155. The paper guide 155 presents a guide wall 157 thatis angled at its upper extent towards a ticket tray 154 thereby todefine a deflector 162. A second recess 163 is provided in the paperguide 155 above the cutting blade 150 b to accommodate the retainingmechanism 164.

The ticket tray 154 has a rectangular lip 156 along one end thereof. Aflange 158 depends from the end of the ticket tray 154 and presents anupright wall 160 in line with the upper portion of a wall 153 a of bladesupport 153.

The retaining mechanism 164 in this embodiment includes a wheel 166formed of plastic that is rotatably mounted on a shaft 168. A portion ofthe periphery of the wheel 166 extends into the space between the guidewall 157 and guide wall 160. The wheel 166 is biased towards the guidewall 160 by a spring 169 acting between the wheel 166 and the paperguide 155.

In this embodiment, during operation, as the paper web 124 is advanced,the periphery of the wheel 166 extending into the space between theguide walls 157 and 160 deflects the leading end of the paper web 124towards the upright wall 160. As the paper web 124 moves upwardlyfurther, the paper web 124 passes between the wheel 166 and the uprightwall. The wheel 166, which is biased towards the upright wall 160 by thespring 169, presses the paper web 124 against the upright wall 160.After the paper web has been cut by the cutting blades 150 a and 150 bto separate a ticket T from the paper web 124, the wheel 166 holds thebottom portion of the ticket against the upright wall 160 in a generalvertical orientation. As a result, when the paper web 124 is advanced toprint and dispense the next ticket, the paper web frictionally overlapswith the previously formed ticket held between the wheel 166 and theupright wall 160 and ejects the ticket in the manner described withreference to the previous embodiment. The ejected ticket is deflected bydeflector 162 onto the upper surface of the ticket tray 154.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of a ticket dispensing mechanism 240 inaccordance with the present invention. The ticket dispensing mechanism240 is very similar to the previous embodiment with the exception of theretaining mechanism 264. The retaining mechanism 264 in this embodimentincludes a planar, rectangular plate 266 accommodated by recess 163 inthe paper guide 155. The plate 266 is coupled to the paper guide 155 atone end by a hinge 268. The plate 266 is upwardly inclined towards theupright wall 160. A spring 269 acts between the paper guide 155 and theupper surface of the plate 266 to urge the plate in a downward directionabout the hinge 268. In this manner, the spring 269 biases the freedistal end of the plate 266 downwardly towards the upright wall 160.

The operation of the ticket dispensing mechanism 240 in this embodimentis very similar to that of the previous embodiment. When the paper web124 is advanced, the portion of the plate 266 extending into the ticketpath deflects the leading end of the paper web 124 towards the uprightwall 160. As the paper web 124 moves upwardly further, the paper web 124passes between the free distal end of the plate 266 and the upright wall160. The plate 266, which is biased towards the upright wall 160 by thespring 269, presses the paper web 124 against the upright wall 160.After the paper has been cut by the cutting device 150 to separate aticket T from the paper web 124, the plate 266 holds the bottom portionof the ticket T against the upright wall 160 in a general verticalorientation. As a result, when the paper web 124 is advanced to printand dispense the next ticket, the paper web 124 frictionally overlapswith the previously formed ticket held between the plate 266 and theupright wall 160 and ejects the ticket.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the ticket dispensing mechanism 340includes a retaining mechanism 364 having a rigid deflector 366accommodated by recess 163 in the paper guide 155. The deflector 366includes a pointed end 368 extending into the ticket path towardsupright wall 160. A spring 369 acts between the deflector and the paperguide 155 to bias the deflector 366 towards the upright wall 160. Stops371 on the deflector 366 interact with stops 373 on the paper guide 155that extend into the recess 163 to limit the extent of movement of thedeflector towards the upright wall 160. The deflector 366, which isbiased into contact with the upright wall 160 by the spring 369,deflects the leading end of the paper web 124 between its pointed end268 and the upright wall 160 and holds the bottom portion of the ticketT in a general vertical orientation after the cutting device 150 hasbeen actuated to cut the paper web 124. As a result, when the paper web124 is advanced to print and dispense the next ticket, the paper web 124frictionally overlaps with the previously formed ticket held between thedeflector 366 and the upright wall 160 and ejects the ticket.

Turning now to FIG. 7, another embodiment of a ticket dispensingmechanism 440 is shown and includes a retaining mechanism 464 verysimilar to the previous embodiment. However, in this embodiment thedeflector 466 is stationary and is integrally formed with the guide wall157 of the paper guide 155. The ticket tray 154 however includes a pairof tray elements (only one of which is shown) moveable relative to oneanother. A spring 473 acts between the tray elements to bias the uprightwall 160 towards the deflector 466.

Turning now to FIG. 8 yet another embodiment of a ticket dispensingmechanism is shown. In this embodiment, the ticket dispensing mechanism540 receives pre-cut forms 124 on which ticket information is to beprinted. The print head 148 and retaining mechanism 564 are in agenerally horizontal disposition and thus, the pre-cut forms travelalong a horizontal path through the ticket dispensing mechanism 540. Theplaten 154 is positioned below the print head 148 to advance the pre-cutforms as tickets are to be printed.

The retaining mechanism 564 in this embodiment is in the form of aresilient flexible retainer strip. The retainer strip 564 is partiallyaccommodated in an angled 563 recess formed in an upper support 565 andextends into the ticket path towards a lower support 560. The flexibleretainer strip 564 includes a first flank 566 extending into the recess563. A second flank 568 is integral with the first flank through aright-angle bend and is positioned between the upper and lower supports555 and 560 respectively. The second flank 568 terminates in a smallledge 569 to give the retainer strip 564 a generally Z-shaped profile.

In operation, as each pre-cut form 124 is printed to form a ticket T andadvanced by the platen 142, the leading edge of the ticket is deflectedby the flank 566 towards the lower support 560 so that it passes betweenthe retainer strip 564 and the upper surface of the support 560. Theresilient biased nature of the retainer strip 564 presses the ticket Tagainst the upper surface of the support 560. As the next pre-cut formis printed to form a ticket and advanced by platen 142, the ticketfrictionally overlaps with the previously formed ticket held between theretainer strip 564 and the support surface 560 and ejects the ticket.

Although the above-described embodiments show the paper web or pre-cutform being guided by the retaining mechanisms such that the paper web orpre-cut form frictionally overlaps with the held ticket and entrains theheld ticket to eject it as the paper web or pre-cut form is advanced,the retaining mechanisms can be positioned so that the leading end ofthe paper web or pre-cut form abuts the held ticket to eject it as thepaper web or pre-cut form is advanced.

For example, FIG. 9 shows yet another embodiment of a ticket dispensingmechanism 640 in accordance with the present invention. In thisembodiment, the retaining mechanism 664 includes upper and lower pairsof resilient flexible retainer strips 666. One retainer strip 666 ofeach pair is mounted on the guide wall 157 while the other retainerstrip of each pair is mounted on the upright wall 160. The upper pair ofretainer strips holds a printed ticket while the lower pair of retainerstrips aligns the advancing paper web with the printed ticket held bythe upper retainer strips so that the advancing paper web abuts thebottom edge of the held ticket T and ejects it from the ticketdispensing mechanism.

In arrangements where the paper web or pre-cut form abuts the bottomedge of the held ticket T to eject it, the paper web can be cupped inone direction and the held ticket cupped in the opposite direction toenhance abutment of the paper web and held ticket. This can be achievedby shaping the platen and the print head so that the paper web leavesthe platen cupped in one direction and by shaping the retainingmechanism or upright wall 160 so that the held ticket is cupped in theopposite direction. Alternatively, the guide surface 157 between theprint head 148 and the cutting device 150 can be shaped to cup the paperweb in the one direction.

FIG. 10 shows still yet another embodiment of a ticket dispensingmechanism 740 in accordance with the present invention. In thisembodiment, the retaining mechanism 764 is similar to that of the firstembodiment and includes a flexible retainer strip 766 mounted on theguide wall 157 of the paper guide 155. The retainer strip 766 is howeverpositioned adjacent the end of the ticket tray 154. In this embodiment,the flange is removed from the ticket tray 154. A driven roller 775 ispositioned above the cutting blade 150 a and below the end of the tickettray 154. The driven roller 775 is coupled to the platen by a belt 777.A spring roller 779 is accommodated by a recess 781 formed in the guidewall 157 and is positioned to form a nip with the driven roller 775. Thedriven roller 775 and spring roller 779 help to push the advancing paperweb toward the retaining mechanism.

While a number of embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated in the accompanying drawings and described hereinabove, itwill be evident to those skilled in the art that changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scopethereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A ticket dispensing mechanism comprising: a drivereceiving sheet material from a supply and advancing said sheetmaterial; a printer printing ticket information on the sheet materialthereby to form a succession of printed tickets, each printed tickethaving a leading end; a retaining mechanism receiving each printedticket advanced by said drive in succession and pressing each printedticket against a generally planar surface thereby to hold said eachprinted ticket; and a guide guiding each printed ticket as it isadvanced by said drive such that the leading end of each successiveprinted ticket contacts and ejects the printed ticket held by saidretaining mechanism prior to itself being held by said retainingmechanism, wherein said retaining mechanism includes a member extendingtowards said generally planar surface, at least one of said member andgenerally planar surface being urged towards the other by a springelement, each printed ticket passing between said member and saidgenerally planar surface and being pressed against said generally planarsurface by said member.
 2. A ticket dispensing mechanism as defined inclaim 1 wherein said member includes a rotatable wheel biased towardssaid generally planar surface by said spring element.
 3. A ticketdispensing mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said wheel deflectsthe leading end of each printed ticket towards said generally planarsurface as each printed ticket is advanced by said drive so that theprinted ticket being advanced by said drive frictionally overlaps withthe printed ticket held by said retaining mechanism thereby toconstitute said guide.
 4. A ticket dispensing mechanism as defined inclaim 1 wherein said member includes an inclined plate, said plate beinghinged at one end and being biased by said spring element in a directionto urge a distal end thereof towards said generally planar surface.
 5. Aticket dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein said platedeflects the leading end of each printed ticket towards said generallyplanar surface as each printed ticket is advanced by said drive so thatthe printed ticket being advanced by said drive frictionally overlapswith the printed ticket held by said retaining mechanism thereby toconstitute said guide.
 6. A ticket dispensing mechanism as defined inclaim 1 wherein said member includes a rigid deflector having a pointeddistal end directed towards said generally planar surface, saiddeflector deflecting the leading end of each printed ticket towards saidgenerally planar surface as each printed ticket is advanced by saiddrive so that the printed ticket being advanced by said drivefrictionally overlaps with the printed ticket held by said retainingmechanism thereby to constitute said guide.
 7. A ticket dispensingmechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein said deflector is biased towardssaid generally planar surface by said spring element.
 8. A ticketdispensing mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein said generally planarsurface is biased towards said deflector by said spring element.
 9. Aticket dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said supply ofsheet material is in the form of a web, said ticket dispensing mechanismfurther including a cutting device cutting said web after said web hasbeen printed and advanced to said retaining mechanism thereby to formeach said printed ticket.
 10. A ticket dispensing mechanism as definedin claim 1 further including a deflector to deflect ejected tickets ontoa ticket receiving surface.
 11. A ticket dispensing mechanism as definedin claim 10 wherein said ticket dispensing mechanism is disposed in ahousing having a body and a lid, an upper surface of said lidconstituting said ticket receiving surface.
 12. A ticket dispensingmechanism as defined in claim 11 wherein said lid carries a flange, saidflange being positioned adjacent said retaining mechanism and definingsaid generally planar surface.
 13. A ticket dispenser comprising: ahousing defining an internal chamber for receiving a roll of paper web;a drive receiving said paper web and advancing said paper web when aticket is to be formed; a printer printing ticket information on saidpaper web as said paper web is advanced by said drive; a retainingmechanism receiving the printed paper web advanced by said drive; and acutting device cutting said paper web after said paper web has beenprinted and advanced to said retaining mechanism thereby to separatetickets from said paper web in succession, wherein said retainingmechanism presses and holds each ticket in succession against agenerally planar surface and guides said paper web in a manner such thatwhen the paper web is advanced by said drive during formation of asuccessive ticket, a leading end of the paper web contacts and ejectsthe ticket held by said retaining mechanism from said housing, saidretaining mechanism including a member extending towards said generallyplanar surface, at least one of said member and generally planar surfacebeing urged towards the other by a spring element, each held ticketbeing pinned between said member and generally planar surface.
 14. Aticket dispenser as defined in claim 13 wherein said paper webfrictionally overlaps with the ticket held by said retaining mechanismto eject the ticket held by said retaining mechanism as said paper webis advanced.
 15. A ticket dispenser as defined in claim 14 wherein saidmember includes a rotatable wheel biased towards said generally planarsurface by said spring element.
 16. A ticket dispenser as defined inclaim 15 wherein said wheel deflects the leading end of said paper webtowards said generally planar surface as said paper web is advanced bysaid drive so that the paper web frictionally overlaps with the ticketheld by said retaining mechanism.
 17. A ticket dispenser as defined inclaim 14 wherein said housing includes a lid defining an upper ticketreceiving surface and a deflector to deflect each ticket ejected fromsaid retaining mechanism onto said ticket receiving surface.
 18. Aticket dispenser as defined in claim 14 wherein said member includes aninclined plate, said plate being hinged at one end and being biased bysaid spring element in a direction to urge a distal end thereof towardssaid generally planar surface.
 19. A ticket dispenser as defined inclaim 18 wherein said plate deflects the leading end of said paper webtowards said generally planar surface as said paper web is advanced bysaid drive so that the paper web frictionally overlaps with the ticketheld by said retaining mechanism.
 20. A ticket dispenser as defined inclaim 14 wherein said member includes a rigid deflector having a pointeddistal end directed towards said generally planar surface, saiddeflector deflecting the leading end of said paper web towards saidgenerally planar surface as said paper web is advanced by said drive sothat the paper web frictionally overlaps with the ticket held by saidretaining mechanism.
 21. A ticket dispenser as defined in claim 20wherein said deflector is biased towards said generally planar surfaceby said spring element.
 22. A ticket dispenser as defined in claim 20wherein said generally planar surface is biased towards said deflectorby said spring element.
 23. A ticket dispenser as defined in claim 13wherein said paper web abuts the end of the ticket held by saidretaining mechanism to eject the held ticket as said paper web isadvanced.
 24. A ticket dispensing mechanism comprising: a drivereceiving sheet material from a supply and advancing said sheetmaterial; a printer printing ticket information on the sheet materialthereby to form a succession of printed tickets, each printed tickethaving a leading end; a retraining mechanism receiving each printedticket advanced by said drive in succession; a guide guiding eachprinted ticket as it is advanced by said drive to said retainingmechanism such that the leading end of the printed ticket being advancedabuts an end of the printed ticket held by said retaining mechanismthereby to eject the held printed ticket, wherein said retainingmechanism and guide each include a pair of opposed resilient strips, theresilient strips of said retaining mechanism holding each printed tickettherebetween, and the resilient strips of said guide aligning eachprinted ticket being advanced by said drive with the printed ticket heldby said retaining mechanism.
 25. A ticket dispensing mechanism asdefined in claim 24 further including means to cup the printed ticketheld by said retaining mechanism in one direction and cup the leadingend of each printed ticket being advanced by said drive in an oppositedirection.
 26. A ticket dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 24wherein said supply of sheet material is in the form of a web, saidticket dispensing mechanism further including a cutting device cuttingsaid web after said web has been printed and advanced to said retainingmechanism thereby to form said printed ticket.
 27. A ticket dispensingmechanism as defined in claim 26 further including a deflector todeflect each ejected printed ticket onto a ticket receiving surface. 28.A ticket dispensing mechanism as defined in claim 27 wherein said ticketdispensing mechanism is disposed in a housing having a body and a lid,an upper surface of said lid constituting said ticket receiving surface.29. A ticket dispenser comprising: a housing defining an internalchamber receiving a roll of paper and having an upper ticket receivingsurface; a paper web guide directing a paper web unwound from said rollin said chamber along a generally vertical path towards said ticketreceiving surface, said paper web guide including a substantiallyupright wall portion with an upper edge and a retainer mechanism actingon said paper web so as to retain against the upright wall portion, thepaper web advancing along said path, said retainer mechanism includingat least one element adjacent said upright wall portion and a springbiasing at least one of said at least one element and upright wallportion towards one another to trap said paper web between said at leastone element and said upright wall portion; a drive unwinding said paperweb from said roll and advancing said paper web along said path; acutting mechanism cutting the paper web into discrete tickets; and adeflector deflecting each ejecting ticket towards said ticket receivingsurface.
 30. A ticket dispenser as defined in claim 29 wherein saiddeflector has an operative deflector extending above said ticketreceiving surface and oriented so as to deflect each ejected ticket ontosaid ticket receiving surface.
 31. A ticket dispenser as defined inclaim 30 further including a printhead printing information on saidpaper web.
 32. A ticket dispenser as defined in claim 31 wherein saiddrive includes a drum and a motor to rotate said drum, said drum beingpositioned adjacent an upright support surface laterally offset fromsaid upright wall portion and forming part of said path, said paper webpassing between said drum and said upright support surface and beingadvanced along said path when said drum is rotated.
 33. A ticketdispenser as defined in claim 32 wherein said printhead is positionedadjacent said drum.
 34. A ticket dispenser as defined in claim 32wherein said housing includes a body and a lid for said body, said lidbeing movable between a closed and an open positioned with respect tosaid chamber and defining said ticket receiving surface.
 35. A ticketdispenser as defined in claim 34 wherein said drum is carried by saidlid and is positioned adjacent said upright support surface when saidlid is in said closed position.
 36. A ticket dispenser as defined inclaim 32 wherein said member includes a rotatable wheel partiallyaccommodated by said upright support surface, said wheel being biasedtowards said upright wall portion by said spring.
 37. A ticket dispenseras defined in claim 36 wherein said wheel deflects the leading end ofsaid paper web towards said upright wall portion as said paper web isadvanced by said drive so that the paper web frictionally overlaps withthe ticket held by said retainer mechanism.
 38. A ticket dispenser asdefined in claim 32 wherein said member includes an inclined platepartially accommodated by said upright support surface, said plate beinghinged at one end and being biased by said spring in a direction to urgea distal end thereof towards said upright wall portion.
 39. A ticketdispenser as defined in claim 38 wherein said plate deflects the leadingend of said paper web towards said upright wall portion as said paperweb is advanced by said drive so that the paper web frictionallyoverlaps with the ticket held by said retainer mechanism.
 40. A ticketdispenser as defined in claim 32 wherein said member includes a rigiddeflector partially accommodated by said upright support surface andhaving a pointed distal end directed towards said upright wall portion,said deflector deflecting the leading end of said paper web towards saidupright wall portion as said paper web is advanced by said drive so thatthe paper web frictionally overlaps with the ticket held by saidretainer mechanism.
 41. A ticket dispenser as defined in claim 40wherein said deflector is biased towards said upright wall portion bysaid spring.
 42. A ticket dispenser as defined in claim 40 wherein saidupright wall portion is biased towards said deflector by said spring.43. A ticket dispenser comprising: a housing including a body definingan internal chamber for receiving a roll of paper and a lid for saidbody, said lid being moveable between a closed position and an openposition to expose said internal chamber and having an upper ticketreceiving surface; a paper web guide to direct a paper web unwound fromsaid roll in said internal chamber along a generally vertical pathtowards said ticket receiving surface, said paper web including asubstantially upright wall portion with an upper edge and a retainermechanism acting on said paper web so as to retain against the uprightwall portion, the paper web advanced along said path, said retainermechanism including at least one element adjacent said upright wallportion and a spring biasing at least one of said at least one elementand upright wall portion toward one another to trap said paper webbetween said at least one element and said upright wall portion; a driveactuable to unwind said paper web from said roll and advance said paperweb along said path; a cutting mechanism for cutting the paper web intodiscrete tickets; and a deflector orientated so as to deflect eachejected ticket towards the ticket receiving surface.
 44. A ticketdispenser as defined in claim 43 wherein said deflector has an operativedeflector surface extending above said ticket receiving surface andoriented so as to deflect each ejected ticket onto the ticket receivingsurface.
 45. A ticket dispenser as defined in claim 44 further includinga printhead to print information on said paper web.
 46. A ticketdispenser as defined in claim 45 wherein said drive includes a drum anda motor to rotate said drum, said drum being positioned adjacent anupright support surface laterally offset from said upright wall portionand forming part of said path, said paper web passing between said drumand said upright support surface and being advanced along said path whensaid drum is rotated.
 47. A ticket dispenser as defined in claim 46wherein said printhead is positioned adjacent said drum.
 48. A ticketdispenser as defined in claim 47 wherein said drum is carried by saidlid and is positioned adjacent said upright support surface when saidlid is in said closed position.
 49. A ticket dispenser as defined inclaim 46 wherein said member includes a rotatable wheel partiallyaccommodated by said upright support surface, said wheel being biasedtowards said upright wall portion by said spring.
 50. A ticket dispenseras defined in claim 49 wherein said wheel deflects the leading end ofsaid paper web towards said upright wall portion as said paper web isadvanced by said drive so that the paper web frictionally overlaps withthe ticket held by said retainer mechanism.
 51. A ticket dispenser asdefined in claim 46 wherein said member includes an inclined platepartially accommodated by said upright support surface, said plate beinghinged at one end and being biased by said spring in a direction to urgea distal end thereof towards said upright wall portion.
 52. A ticketdispenser as defined in claim 51 wherein said plate deflects the leadingend of said paper web towards said upright wall portion as said paperweb is advanced by said drive so that the paper web frictionallyoverlaps with the ticket held by said retainer mechanism.
 53. A ticketdispenser as defined in claim 46 wherein said member includes a rigiddeflector partially accommodated by said upright support surface andhaving a pointed distal end directed towards said upright wall portion,said deflector deflecting the leading end of said paper web towards saidupright wall portion as said paper web is advanced by said drive so thatthe paper web frictionally overlaps with the ticket held by saidretainer mechanism.
 54. A ticket dispenser as defined in claim 53wherein said deflector is biased towards said upright wall portion bysaid spring.
 55. A ticket dispenser as defined in claim 53 wherein saidupright wall portion is biased towards said deflector by said spring.